MHK Giveaway at Proviso West

Last week, The Firehouse Dream team visited Proviso West High School in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month for another Mental Health Kit giveaway. We were able to hand out 201 Mental Health Kits to students! We also had a table set in the cafeteria for students to come up and get information about available resources and programming. Students engaged with the kits, asked questions, and showed interest in the intention behind the items inside the kits, which are tools centered around emotional well-being, grounding, reflection, and self-care.

This giveaway completed our goal of distributing 500 Mental Health Kits throughout May! Our giveaways continue to create opportunities to support mental health, increase access to resources, and strengthen community and connection. Thank you to Proviso West High School for welcoming us once again and supporting their students and their mental health within the community.

TFD Volunteer Day | Mental Health Kits

As we prepare for Mental Health Awareness Month, we had an amazing volunteer night where we built community while packing stickers, assembling mental health kits, and sharing a meal together. In total, we packed 500 “Bag of Big Feelings!” We usually need two volunteer days to pack all 500 Mental Health Kits, but we had a dream team of volunteers who worked so hard to get all the kits packed and ready for our youth!

Our volunteer day has a packing station to put the stickers together, a station for packing the “Bag of Big Feelings”, and volunteers who made this day successful and fun!

The HAP Foundation | Grief workshop at TFD

The HAP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides guidance, direction, and grief support for all ages.

The Grief Workshop, held at The Firehouse Dream with the HAP Foundation, gave community members a safe space to talk about grief, learn about the different stages, and understand the emotions one may be feeling during these stages. Participants shared, reflected, and created memory jars as a way to cope and honor their people and moments in their lives. They also learned that grief can show up in many different ways, and everyone was encouraged to honor their own experiences. One of the Community Health Workers, Kaitlyn Macias, also shared resources, including information about their grief circles to support our community.

Mental Health Kit Giveaway at Proviso West

Our team went to Proviso West High School for another giveaway of the Mental Health Kits! We were able to give away 41 kits to students. We introduced the students to The Firehouse Dream, sharing how the space and the programs are intentional with creativity, healing, and empowerment. Our Community Engagement Coordinator, Jessica, connected directly with the students, explaining what’s inside the kits and how they can be used.

Thank you, Proviso West High School, for having us and partnering with us in supporting student wellness and emotional well-being.

Triton College Area Planning Council Community Resource Fair

Triton College had a community resource fair and invited other organizations to be a part of it. The fair created a space for students and community members to learn more about the different organizations. At our table, TFD gave out resources and additional information about any upcoming programming happening at The Firehouse Dream. We also talked about what TFD is about and how others can get involved with volunteering or being part of the workshops, while giving away mental health kits and fidget toys. We had the chance to connect with other organizations and learn more.